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LCS 2 builder trials delayed for 2nd day

The littoral combat ship Independence didn’t get underway Tuesday from its shipyard dock in Mobile, Ala., a day after an engineering problem delayed the start of its builder’s trials. Officials would not give an explanation why.

Technicians had hoped to resolve early difficulties with one of the Independence’s main propulsion diesel engines by Tuesday morning, but a spokesman for shipbuilder General Dynamics wouldn’t confirm if that or other engineering problems were what held up Independence for the second day.

The aluminum trimaran was originally scheduled to sail Monday for four days of builder’s trials.

General Dynamics spokesman Jim DeMartini did say GD and the Austal USA shipyard would no longer be providing “interim updates” about Independence’s builder’s trials — which is to say, they would take no more questions from reporters.

“We’ve decided the best results for everybody all along the way is a summary assessment of the whole event after the trials are over,” he said.

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LCS 2 delays trials after engine issue